All 48 episodes of this acclaimed space adventure are contained in this complete collection, digitally remastered from the original 35mm film, plus bonus footage, featured extras, and much more! With its progressive plotli... more &raquones, an outstanding cast, and astonishing special effects from Oscar® winner Brian Johnson (Alien, The Empire Strikes Back), SPACE: 1999 has secured its place as one of the most thought-provoking series of the 21st century?and beyond.&laquo less

Movie Reviews

Better Price? YES! Better Remaster? NO!!!

K. A. Walsh | Eatontown, NJ, USA | 08/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I feel ripped off...I really do. I had all the old American releases on DVD (which I will be selling to a local merchant because they deal in used DVDs) to recoup some of the cost I spent on this set. THIS IS NOT THE NETWORK DVD/UK EDITION REMASTERS FOR REGION 1...let's make that VERY clear.

If you have a multi-region/format player, go over to Amazon UK and order the First Season from Network...it is *spectacular*. You can also pre-order the Second Season from Network there as well (release date is Sept 10). The Network DVDs have phenomenal video AND audio, crisp and clear 5.1 audio in fact that gives your sub-woofer a workout. Needless to say, I pre-ordered mine from across the pond the day I got this.

Why 3 stars? Overall story and series would have gotten a 5. Minus four stars for the remaster rip-off, plus a star for slimmer packaging/better price, plus a star for *some* improvement in the audio (now 2.0 stereo as opposed to mono) and a bit of an improvement on Season Two eps video.

If you have this...save your cash, even though the old discs might take up more shelf-space. If you don't and only have a standard Region One player, then by all means get it. If you have a multi region/format player...RUN to Amazon UK and purchase the Network Season One and Two Versions.

There is no comparison...the Network DVDs are spectacular!"

This IS the same as the other set...just a better price.

Keith C. Bradbury | Indianapolis, IN | 07/25/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As soon as we got this in, we opened a set and checked it out...

This so-called digitally remastered 30th Anniversary edition is NO DIFFERENT than the older Mega Set...just slimmer packaging. You still see all the spots, smudges, hairs, graininess. The only reason to buy this is if you have not already gotten the older set and want to save some money. Sad, really, that we did not get the better UK remastered product."

A series that never really lived up to its potential...

Kenneth M. Pizzi | San Mateo, CA United States | 07/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Speaking on the behalf of all sci-fi fans who watched Space 1999 on its initial broadcast run, Gerry Anderson deserves our respect. With "Supermarination" like "Captain Scarlet," "Secret Service" and the "Thunderbirds," he raised the caliber of Saturday morning TV fare above the usual, two-dimensional animated cartoon.

With "Space 1999" he initiated a new renaissance in science fiction making it respectable with a broad appeal to audiences young and old alike. Not since "Star Trek" which made its debut in 1966, has there been another science fiction series on TV that has made a significant impact or has been more widely recognized.

To compare the two series would be unfair with Star Trek now having now reached the proportions of "epic" on par with the Illiad and the Odyssey in the realm of science fiction let alone the franchises the series has spawned. What detracts from the quality of Space 1999 is not the SFX (expertly orchestrated by Brian Johnson) or the quality of the acting from the leads, but rather, the implausibility of the plots. One tries very hard to enjoy Space 1999 like I have, but I like my science fiction with large dollops of science, and we live in an age where audiences have even a rudimentary understanding of physics and space travel. Sadly, this is the Achilles Heel of Space 1999; ridiculous plots at times matched with dull scripts with empty plots that approximate the size of a black hole.

The first season is generally considered the stronger of the two: the second noted for the addition of Maya (called a "Mr. Spock rip-off" by fans of Roddenberry), a resident of Moonbase Alpha and an alien that can morph into any living organism--an interesting, if wild stopgap to save the sagging ratings of the series at the time. Not surprisingly, many people are divided about Space 1999: people either hate it or love it.

This set, includes interviews, some outtakes, a special feature with SFX expert Brian Johnson, commercials, etc. All in all, Space 1999 was significant because it illustrated the true potential that lay in science fiction paving the way for "Star Wars" and other epics that would follow.

Those interested in learning more about Space 1999, should pick up a copy of John Kenneth Muir's book-length study of the series, "Exploring Space 1999"--a fascinating read if you wish to know more about the series, its impact, and eventual demise.

"

30th Anniversary MegaSet of Space: 1999

E. Dunn | Chicago, IL | 05/29/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Having the original MegaSet of Space: 1999, I was hoping to have 'extras' on the 30th Anniversary MegaSet DVD's. The DVD containers have been changed and condensed, but otherwise the offerings are the same as the original MegaSet -- the addded 'Bonus Disc' is the same that has been available at all the Space: 1999 Conventions since 2005. The 'Special Features' throughout the MegaSet are the same as on the original MegaSet. It would have been "special" if the Anniversary MegaSet had 'bloopers', 'behind the scenes' that weren't on the original MegaSet DVD's, et al. A purchase of this MegaSet is more for nostalgia and to support the continuing life (after cancellation) of Space: 1999."

Despite the errors, the show has much to offer

D. Merchant | Ruston, LA USA | 08/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1. The show does have many scientific errors, which can make some of the plots implausible. However, my approach is to watch the show more for its treatment/depiction of philosophical issues than for its scientific treatments/depictions. Look at the episodes as allegories, as science fiction fairy tales, and you will find them enjoyable (after all, most fairy tales are very implausible).

2. Some of the critiques of the plot errors are a bit unfair - they show that the reviewer hasn't really watched the show closely. For instance, the Amazon review bemoans that "In 'Earthbound,' aliens traveling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens." Uhm, maybe because two episodes earlier the Moon had an encounter with a small black hole which caused the Moon to be hurled far away from the Earth. That is why in the episode "Earthbound" the Moonbase Alphans didn't know what direction Earth was in anymore - with help from the aliens they learned at least what direction Earth was in. So while you can certainly argue with some of the science in the show, at least for the fictional/fantasy world the show exists in, there is consistency in it.

Another complaint is how season two has different uniforms and different decoration of the set from season one. The show had a one year hiatus and I suppose they thought the audience would just assume that some time had passed and the Alphans made some modifications - heck we change fashions here on Earth over time, why not for the Moonbase? What is so unbelievable about that? Also, with time, there would be a change in personnel as people die, and/or needs of the Moonbase change and people get reassigned. Of course, this doesn't explain Barry Morse's character being replaced by Maya (the Mr. Spock rip-off). That, I will easily concede, is not a nit-picky minor detail to be overlooked.

3. And other critiques say things like "without regard to any physical laws." Balooney. Without enough regard, I'll agree with. But to insinuate that the show had no regard to _any_ physical laws is harsher than it needs to be. Yes, the show didn't pay enough regard to physical laws.

Anyway, again, treat each episode by itself - treat them as allegories, treat them as futuristic fairy tales, and just enjoy the stories themselves. Back to the episode "Earthbound" (with guest star Christopher Lee), it is a new twist on the "lifeboat" type of philosophical dilemma - if you only have enough room to save one person, who goes? Actually, several moral questions are raised and treated in that episode.

And that is what is best about Space: 1999. It is a very thought provoking show - for some though, they can't stop complaining about the science errors that create some implausible staging for the plots to unfold upon. It's like going to a play and complaining how the set pieces aren't real, or going to a movie and complain that it is implausible for superman to fly. Superman is a metaphor - by straining at the gnat details, you are missing the meaning. The show was never about hard science. So don't expect it.

Relax, and just enjoy the stories for the stories, for their metaphors, for their thought provoking treatment and discussion of moral and philosophical issues. If you want more hard science science fiction, there are other shows you can watch and enjoy."